Process for the production of squalene-type-hydrocarbons

ABSTRACT

Production of squalene-type-hydrocarbons by dimerizing conjugated diene compounds in the presence of a catalyst system consisting of a palladium compound, a ligand of the formula MR&#39;&#39;3 (where M represents P or As, and R&#39;&#39; represents a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon group) and a strong alkaline agent, in an alcohol in the presence of a compound having ether bond(s). A squalene-type-hydrocarbon of the formula   WHERE R is -(CH2)2CH C(CH3)2

UnitedStateS Patent [1 1 Komatsu et al.

[ 1 PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SQUALENE-TYPE-I-IYDROCARBONS 1751 lnventorsc Akira Komatsu; Susumu Akutagawa; Taichi Someya, all of 211 Appl. No.: 405,211

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 362,986, May 23, 1973, Pat. No.

[52] US. Cl 260/677 R, 260/680 B [51] Int. Cl C07c ll /00,C07c 11/4 *[58] Field of Search 260/677 R, 680 B, 683.15, 260/666 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,663,639 5/1972 I Morikawa et al. 260/677 R 3,696,108 10/1972 Morikawa 260/677R 3,792,101 2/1974 Hattori et a1 260/677 R 3,794,692 2/1974 Komatsu 260/677 R 3,801,668 4/1974' Komatsu 260/677 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,320,729 4/1961 France 260/677 R 1 1 Jan. 7, 1975 1 1 I ABSTRACT Production of squalene-type-hydrocarbons by dimerizing conjugated diene compounds in the presence of a catalyst system consisting of a palladium compound, a

ligand of the formula MR (where M represents P or I As, and R represents a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon group) and a strong alkaline agent, in an alcohol in the presence of a compound having ether bond(s).'

A squalene-type hydrocarbon of the formula 3 Claims, No Drawings PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SQUALENE-TYPE-HYDROCARBONS This isa division of application Ser. No; 362,986, filed May 23, l973,now US. Pat. No. 3,801,668.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a process for preparing squalene-type-hydrocarbons particularly. represented by formula (l) wherein R represents a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group, and to novel squaIene-typehydrocarbons within formula (I).

2. Description of the Prior Art Various studies have hitherto been performed on the oligomerization of conjugated diene compounds using a palladium complex, and a number of patents have been granted relating to such subject matter.

However, no successful process for selectively dimerizing a butadiene substitute having the general formula e.g., isoprene, myrcene, farnesene, etc. to forma squalene'type-hydrocarbon'is known.

Angen. Chem., 78, 157 (.1966) by G. Wilke relates to the synthesis ofgdodecatetraene v(l, 3, 6, by dicompound having ether bond(s) using a catalyst system merizing butadiene in the presence of bis-rr-allylpalladium catalyst, and J. Chem. Soc. Japan 88, 1306 (1967) by S. Takahashi relates to the synthesis of octatriene (l, 3, '7) by dimerizing butadiene in the presence ofbis triphenyl phosphine-maleic. anhydride-palladium catalyst.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object of the ,presentinvention to provide a novel process formanufacturing simplyand advantageously squalene-type-hydrocarbons of formula wherein R represents a saturated orunsaturated hydrocarbon group. These squalene-type-hydrocarbons can be used as raw materials for various medical supplies,

industrial chemicals-cosmetics, etc.

Above all, a dimerized product prepared from farmsene (wherein the substituent R in the above formula (I) is -CH .-CH-.-CH C(CH )CHCH CH C(CH )-CH hasthe skeleton of natural :squalene and is useful as a raw material for cosmetics, machine oils, etc. For example, a final" squalene-typecomprising a palladium complex with a strong alkaline agent in an alcohol, the conjugated diene compounds, are selectively bound at their 4-position carbon atoms.

The presentinvention also provides novel squalene type-hydrocarbons of the formula R 01E A mmerr where R is cn, ,cu C(.CH3)2 or DETAILEDDESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION- More precisely, the present invention relates to squalene-type-hydrocarbons of the above formula (I) as well as a novel process for the manufacture thereof a which is characterized by reacting conjugated diene compounds of formula (II).

wherein R'has the same meaningas mentioned above,

usingacatalyst system consisting of a palladium compound, a ligand of the formula MR; (where M represents P orlAs, and R represents a saturatedorunsaturated aliphatic'or aromatic hydrocarbon group) and a.

strongalkaline agent, in an alcohol in the presence of a compound having ether bond(s).

The palladium compound(s) used in the presentinvention as a catalyst primarily include a palladium salt of the formula PdX (where'X represents a halogen or N0 orCN or -'OCOCH and secondarily include a palladium-rr-allyl complex ofthe formula (where R" represents a hydrogen.atom'or;--CH,X', and X represents a halogen).

These. palladium compounds provide a sufficient .effect in an amountof 5 mmol or less thereof per Lmol of conjugated diene compound; and are most preferably used in an amount equal to or greaterthan 1 mmol per 1 mol of conjugated diene compound.

mula MR (where M and R have the same meanings as mentioned above), which includes, for example, tributyl phosphine, tri-phenyl phosphine, tri-butyl' arsenic, etc. It is preferred to use these compounds in an amount of 0.5-4 mols, preferably 1-2 mols, per 1 mol of the palladium compound.

In the present invention, the palladium compound and ligand may be used individually or, alternatively, a complex of the formula (R M) PdX (where R, M and X have the same meanings as given above) can be used in place of the palladium compound and ligand, whereby good effects are also attained. When the complex is used, it is generally used in an amount of lmmols perl mol of conjugated diene'compounds.

As the strong alkaline agents there can be used an alkali metal hydroxide such as sodium hydroxide, potassium-hydroxide, etc., as well as an alkaline metal alpounds having ether bond(s) which will be mentioned hereunder can be omitted. Examples of suitable alcohols having ether bonds are C I-I OCH CH OI-I ethyl cellosolve, CH O(CH O(CH OI-I diethylene glycol monomethylether, f

I tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, and the like.

' The amount of alcohol(s) used is not limited, but is, as a rule, preferably 20-40% by volume on the basis of the conjugated diene compounds. When an alcohol having etherbonds is used, and the use of a compound having ether bonds can, if desired, be omitted, the alcohol having ether bonds is preferably used in anamount of 20-40% by volume.

The compounds'having at least one ether bond(s) (there is no theoretical limit on the maximum number of bonds) include, for example, a dialkyl-ether, ethylene-glycol-dimethyl-ether, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, anisole, etc. These compounds have the function, together with the above mentioned ligand, toprovide a selectivity of reaction for the 44 bond of the conjugated diene compound. The compounds having ether bond(s) is/are generally used in an amount of 5-l00%, preferably -20%, by weight of the conjugated diene compound(s).

It is preferable to perform the present invention in an inert gas atmosphere, e.g., argon, the reaction temperahydrocarbons may advantageously be prepared by selectively combining conjugated diene compounds at their 44 positioncarbons by means of a simple opera tion.

The present invention will be illustrated in more detail by the following Examples, where the pressure of reactionwas 7-9 Kg/cm".

EXAMPLE 1 Into a pressure bottle having avolume of l00 ml-were put 0.35 g of palladium chloride (2 mmol), 052g of triphenyl phosphine (2 mmol) and 0.58'g of sodium .phenoxide (5 mmol), and the atmosphere therein was replaced by nitrogen gas. 60 mlof isoprene, 10 ml of isopropyl alcohol and 10 ml of isopropyl ether were put thereinto, and the bottle sealed. The contents were shaken for 10 hours at 50C. After reaction, the reaction solution was subjected. to fractional distillation, whereby 21 g of a fraction having a boiling point of 85-90C/40 mmHg and 2 g of a distillation residue were obtained and 18 g of unreacted isoprene were recovered. 7 V j It was confirmed through gas chromatography (Apiezone L, 45 m X 0.25 mm 4), 70C) that the purity of the resulting productwas 98%, and from NMR and IR data andthe carbon skeleton of the corresponding hydrogenated product -(b.p. 75-80 C/40 mmHg) that theproduct has the structure of above formula"(l) wherein R CH Elemental analyses C I-I calculated C 88.2, H 11.8

measured C 87.5, H 12.5

While the catalystsin the Examples are formed in situ they need not be, and can be formed in advance of use.

EXAMPLE 2 60 ml of isoprene, 10 ml of n-butyl-alcohol, 10 ml of I diethylether,'0.37 g of bis-n-allyl palladium chloride (2 mmol), 0.43 g of tributyl-arsenic (2 mmol) and 0.58 g

of sodium phenolate' (5 mmol) were treated following the procedure of Example 1, whereby 35 g of the compound of formula (I) where R ="CI-I were obtained ture is preferably 0-1'20C, particularly 50-80C, and

Y the reaction period is preferably 5-40 hours, particu- (purity; and 5 g of isoprene were recovered.

' EXAMPLE 3 60 ml of isoprene, 10 ml of triethylene glycolmonomethyl ether, 0.46 g of palladium nitrate (2 mmol), 0.4 g oftributyl phosphine (2 mmol) and 0.28 g of potassium hydroxide (5 mmol) were treated following the procedure of Example 1, whereby 33 g of the compound of formula (I) whereR Cl-I were obtained (purity: 95%) and 6 g of unreacted isoprene were recovered.

} EXAMPLE 4 I j 60 ml of myrcene, 7 ml of isopropanol, 7 ml of isopropyl ether, 0.46 g of palladium nitrate (2 mmol), 1 0.52 g of triphenyl phosphine (2 mmol) and 0.58 g of It was confirmed through gas chro tography (Silicon DC 4000, .4 m X 3 mm (b, 200C at the purity of fraction (2) was 95%, and from NMR and IR data and the carbon skeleton of the corresponding hydrogenated product (which was found to' correspond to a conventional product through mass spectrography and gas chromatography Apiezone L, 45 m X 0.25 mm dz, 150C) that the product has the structure of formula (I) wherein R CH CH -CH C(CH Fraction (1) was unreacted myrcene. Elemental analyses C ll calculated C 88.2, H 11.8

measured C 88.6, H 11.4

EXAMPLE 5 60 ml of farnesene, 7 ml of isopropyl alcohol, 7 ml of isopropyl ether, 0.46 g of palladium nitrate (2 mmol),

0.52 g of triphenyl phosphine (2 mmol) and 0.58 g of sodium 'phenolate (5 mmol) were treated following the procedure of Example 1, whereby 10 g of fraction (1) having a boiling point of l05-120C/l0 mmHg and 25 g of fraction (2) having a boiling point of l75l80C/0.2 mmHg were obtained. Fraction (1) is unreacted, recovered farnesene.

It was confirmed through gas chromatography (silicon DC 4000, 4 m X 3 mm d1, 230C) that the purity of fraction (2) was 97% and from NMR, IR and'mass spectrographic data and from the carbon skeleton of the corresponding hydrogenated product (which has a boiling point of 177'-180C/0.2 mmHg and which was found to correspond to the conventional product squalane through mass spectrography and gas chromatography Apiezone L, 45 m X 0.25 mmtb, 175C) that the structure of the product therein corresponds to formula (I) where R CH Cl-l -CH C(CH )--CH CH- 2-'CH Elemental analyses G l-l calculated C 88.2, H 11.8- measured C 88.5, H 11.5 While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will 5 be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modificationscan be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

R om 1t l (I: (13011? cm (111' I ll OH: on

What is claimed is: l. A squalene-type-hydrocarbon of the formula where R is (CH CH C(CH or 2. The squalene-type hydrocarbon of claim 1 R is -(Cl-I CH=C(CH 3. The squalene-type hydrocarbon of claim 1 wherein Ris wherein 

1. A SQUALENE-TYPE-HYDROCARBON OF THE FORMULA
 2. The squalene-type hydrocarbon of claim 1 wherein R is -(CH2)2CH C(CH3)2.
 3. The squalene-type hydrocarbon of claim 1 wherein R is 